WAIKOHU RUGBY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22622, 27 April 1948, Page 8

WAIKOHU RUGBY

additional teams COMPETITIONS COMMENCE REVERSES- TO CHAMPIONS Though the weather was showery the opening o£ the competitions of the Waikohu Rugby Sub-Union drew good attendances to the Te Karaka and Whatatutu and Ormond grounds on Saturday. _ . Four teams are again contesting the senior championship, but the junior division has been doubled, numbering six teams compared with three last year and giving an encouraging indication that players trained to a good standard should be available in future for the top grade. Whatatutu. last year's senior champions. are now without the services of two notable players in the North Island rep. forward. G. King now playing with Onslow, Wellington, and the Waiokhu rep. three-quarter of last season, J. Casey, who has joined Marist. Gisborne.

Puha, runners-up for the senior title last season, have practically the same team with a valuable reinforcement in B. Brown, who has returned from the Tolaga Bay district where his form as a five-eighth was recognised by his inclusion in the East Coast reps, last year. Waipoao and Te Karaka have much the same sides respectively as last year. Keen competition is looked forward to in both grades. Two Puha Teams Win

Both Puha senior and junior beams on Saturday travelled to Whatatutu where the seniors defeated Waipaoa oy 9 points to 3 in a hard even game and the juniors beat Whatatutu 11 —3 in the curtain-raiser.

Waipaoa fielded a very heavy team, especially in the forwards, who dominated play in the rucks and scrums against the lighter Puha vanguard. Lines out were even and Puha excelled in the loose. The ball became greasy, and both sets of backs had trouble in handling it. Waipaoa. who gained possession from most of the scrums, did not make good use of the ball, although J. Charteris, first five-eighth played a grand game. He was particularly notable in defence. C. Wi Rangi on the wing showed plenty of. dash. In the forwards B. and A. Wills were the pick and the hooking of B. Puia was good. The Puha forwards were ably led by W. Pevreal, R Baty and I. Tu. At halfback M. Morrell played a good heady game and sent out good passes to his first five-eighth. E Baylev. who also played well. R. Greatbatch, on the wing, showed determination. Puha led at half-time by nine points to nil. S. Hollis goaied a penally and B. Williams and R. Greatbatch scored tries. In the second half J. Haronga scored a try for Waipaoa. this being the only score. Mr. F. Goodley was the referee Te Karaka Success At Te Karaka the home seniors defeated Whatatutu by 21 points to 3. Whatatutu fielded the heavier pack but the Te Karaka forwards were fittter. Scrums and rucks were even, but fie Karaka had the better of loose play and lines out. Although the ball was greasy after the rain the home backs handled very well and clearly shaded the visiting set. For Te Karaka N. Ruru. half-back, A. Bayley, second five-eighth and R v Ruru, full-back, played well, while H. Trafftjrd and L. Kimber were the best of the forwards. For Whatatutu A. Mitchell, played well at half-back and B. Hollis, full-back, was sound in defence. The most useful forwards ' "ere T. Turei and K. Stevens. In the first spell S. Symon and W. King] scored tries for Te Karaka. R. Ruru converted one and also kicked a penalty goal, while K. Stevens scored for Whatatutu. the tally being 11—3. Points for Te Karaka in the second half came from tries by P. Clayden and N. Fuller, both being converted by R. Ruru with good kicks and the game ended 21—3. Mr. B. Malone was the referee. Junior’s Field Goal At Whatatutu the visiting Puha junior team proved too good for the home side as indicated by the score, 11 —3. Better back combination'was the deciding factor, the forwards being evenly matched. For Puha Cameron and Rickard scored tries. Greatbatch converted one while D. Hollis kicked the first field goal to count three point's in the sub-union competitions. Tu Wairua scored a try lor Whatatutu. For Puha, K. Rickard, D. Hollis, J. Greatbatch and W. Fisher played well and for Whatatutu, F. Marshall, T. Atkins and Tu Wairua were the pick. Mr. C. Brown was the referee. Keen Curtain-Raiser In a very kedn curtain-raiser at Te Karaka. the High School second fifteen beat Te Karaka by 11 points to 9. ine School team showed better combination, and were fitter, although the heavier Te Karaka team were unlucky on many occasions. For school, D. Hay and T, Kingi scored tries, o. Nikora converted one and kicked a penalty. For Te Karaka, N. Ruru scored two tries. Outstanding for School were G. Nikora, A. Parekowhai, J. Brown, B. Buckingham, while D. Jones, R. Charteris and P. Sutherland, were leaders in tire Te Karaka team. Mr. J. Bayley was the referee. Defeat of School Side The newly-formed Ormond junior team, playing on their own ground, took the decision over the Te Karaka High School first fifteen by 11 points to 8. The school representatives were unbeaten in the competition last season and scored 97 points in their six games, while none were registered against them. For Ormond, P. Wawatai kicked a penalty goal and C. Sharp scored and converted a try. and also kicked a penalty. For High School A. Symon scored two tries and converted one. Prominent for Ormond were P. Wawatai, B. Bell and Oxenham, while A. Symon, G. Paton, and B. McKay played well for School. Mr. K. Spence was the referee.